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In the summer of 1962 at the White Mountain Research Station the early phases of altitude acclimatization were studied in six of the surviving eight members of the 1935 expedition to the Chilean Andes; they were from 58 to 71 years of age. Alveolar and arterial Po2 and Pco2 were determined for each man a few hours after arrival at 3,093 m and at 3,800 and 4,343 m over the next few days. The effects of age were superimposed on the classical responses to high altitude. The arterial and alveolar Pco2 values showed no significant gradient; the alveolar Pco2 was found to be lower for a given altitude than 27 years before. For example, their average alveolar Pco2 at 4,700 m in 1935 was 27.7 mm Hg as opposed to 25.1 mm Hg at 4,343 m in 1962. The case of Hall was exceptional: his alveolar Pco2 ranged from 21 to 24 mm Hg regardless of altitude for his sojourn of 22 days. In 1935 these six men had a mean A-a Po2 gradient of +3.0 mm Hg at 4,700 m, while in 1962 the gradient over the three altitudes was +12.4 mm Hg. These findings would likely be explained partially by age changes in the pulmonary ventilation-perfusion ratio. acclimatization; pulmonary ventilation-perfusion ratio; alveolar-arterial Po2 and Pco2 gradients; alveolar hyperventilation; aging and altitude Submitted on February 19, 1963

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Individual blood samples were collected anaerobically from the brachial arteries of adult White Rock hens and were analyzed for Po2, Pco2, pH, oxygen content and capacity, and CO2 content and capacity. A dissociation curve was constructed from data on equilibration of pooled venous blood. The average arterial oxygen saturation was 90%, the Pco2 was about 32 mm Hg, the Po2 was between 94 and 99 mm Hg, and the pH averaged 7.49. The dissociation curve, as has been shown before, was shifted to the right of most homeothermic species.